A potential Republican opponent for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said that the congresswoman “ran away” when he approached her at the National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City on Sunday.
Rich Valdes, a talk-radio producer who’s previously worked for former New Jersey GOP Gov. Chris Christie, told the New York Post on Monday that he decided to try and debate Ocasio-Cortez during the parade after seeing her near West 47th Street.
Ocasio-Cortez “cut her handshaking short, jerked her hand back and jetted to the other side of the street,” Valdes said.
“She literally ran!” he added.
“I thought this was a good time to try and get a response but I honestly only saw the back of her head as she trotted across the street.”
The congresswoman’s spokesperson dismissed Valdes’ claim that she ran.
“She kept walking! The parade moved! It’s a procession! Give me a break,” he said.